2017 Maker Faire Engages Kids and Families

By neva, Aug 18, 2017

The end of the summer brings fairs and festivals, including the 5th annual Dover Mini Maker Faire on Saturday, August 26th. Organized and hosted by the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in downtown Dover, this faire features over 65 local “Makers” who will be offering inspiring and eye-opening hands-on activities perfect for kids returning back to school in just a few short weeks.

Not only does this faire offer the time honored staples like face painting, indulgent food, a magic show, and live music, but it also brings together Ghostbusters and pirates, Girl Scouts teaching STEM and a chance to drive the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s underwater ROV’s. A beekeeper talks insects while robots roam and air rockets launch. A trebuchet launches ice into the Cocheco river, while inside the museum workshops about creating comics, animal origami, egg drop creations and stamping silverware are offered to all. Watch an artist paint, play with VELCRO brand fasteners, make tea bags out of scratch, play with clay, learn about solar energy and interact with robots of all sizes.

Groups and families will have their cardboard creations inside the Cardboard Box Museum. Visitors can explore their sculptures, games and structures and perhaps get inspired to create their own for next year’s Faire. Create a guitar with just a can and some strings. Work on a collaborative fairy or gnome house with Bedrock Gardens. Watch a wheel throwing demonstration and learn how to do wax casting. Play a game of giant Jenga or play with Snap Circuits. Play with Legos, buy a 3D printed fidget spinner, watch ice cream being made from liquid nitrogen, create a Tesla musical coil from a kit, play video games, talk to a satellite and go home with a bag of free electronics.

“The purpose of a Maker Faire is to see where curiosity and creativity can take you,” shared Neva Cole, Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s Communications Director. “Here at the museum or goal is to actively engage families in hands-on discovery and we’re trying to inspire the next generation of innovators and creative thinkers. The Dover Mini Maker Faire is a great opportunity to do just that.”